JP2001129285A - Oil quantity indicating for sewing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a malfunction such as seizure of a mechanism part caused by operating a sewing machine in an insufficient state of an oil residual quantity. SOLUTION: An oil quantity indicating device of a sewing machine is provided with movable members 14, 16 displaced according to an oil storage quantity of an oil tank 6 of a sewing machine, detecting means 22, 30, 36 capable of detecting that at least the oil storage quantity becomes a preset quantity or less by detecting a position of these movable members and means 24, 26, 28 for prohibiting driving when detecting that the oil storage quantity becomes the preset quantity or less by these detecting means.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting the remaining amount of lubricating oil in an industrial sewing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of knowing the remaining amount of lubricating oil of an industrial sewing machine, there are a method using an oil amount indicating device using the principle of a float and a method of directly visually checking the oil level of the oil. Are known.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show an industrial sewing machine in which a conventional oil amount indicating device is incorporated. The oil amount indicating device 10 includes a float case 12, a float 14 arranged inside the float case 12, an oil amount indicating rod 16 having the float 14 fixed to a lower end, and an arm portion of the sewing machine. 2 provided with an oil amount indication window 18 provided in the apparatus. Since the oil tank 6 in the bed 4 and the float case 12 are connected by the pipe 8, the oil level in the oil tank 6 and the float level in the float case 12 are the same. A scale indicating the amount of oil is formed in the oil amount indicating window 18, and the upper end of the oil amount indicating rod 16 is located in the oil amount indicating window 18. Therefore, the operator can know the oil amount by observing the upper end of the oil amount indicating rod 16 in the oil amount indicating window 18.

[0004] In an industrial sewing machine provided with an oil reservoir below, the liquid level itself of the oil in the oil reservoir has been visually checked with the sewing machine turned down. In the case of a direct drive type sewing machine in which the sewing machine main motor is built into the sewing machine arm, a switch is provided on the sewing machine table to automatically shut off the sewing machine main power when the sewing machine is tilted for maintenance. I was

[0005]

However, with the conventional visual checking method, the sewing machine can be operated even when the remaining amount of oil is insufficient due to reasons such as the worker not checking. However, troubles such as seizure of mechanical parts occur without lubrication.

[0006] Particularly, in the case of a sewing machine having an oil tank, the capacity of oil is reduced as compared with the case where an oil reservoir is used, so that the number of times of oil injection increases, and there is a high possibility that the operator will forget to check the remaining amount. Become. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[0007]

According to the present invention, a movable member which is displaced in accordance with an amount of oil stored in an oil tank of a sewing machine and a position of the movable member are detected. Detecting means capable of detecting that the oil storage amount has become equal to or less than the set amount, and means for inhibiting driving of the sewing machine when the detection means has detected that the oil storage amount has become equal to or less than the set amount. And an oil amount indicating device for a sewing machine. By being warned that the oil storage amount has fallen below the set amount, it is possible to prevent forgetting to refuel and prevent the sewing machine from being driven when the remaining amount of oil is insufficient. Seizure can be prevented. Preferably, the detecting means is capable of adjusting the set amount.

If the movable member is disposed on the oil surface side where the vertical movement of the sewing machine is large when the sewing machine is tilted, the main power supply is automatically cut off during maintenance, so that a safety switch is provided on the sewing machine table as in the prior art. No need.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a main part of a sewing machine incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the main part of the first embodiment.

The sewing machine to which the present invention is applied comprises an arm 2 and a bed 4, and an oil tank 6 is provided in the bed 4.
Are arranged. The oil tank 6 is connected to an oil amount indicating device 10 by a pipe 8. This oil amount indicating device 1
Numeral 0 includes a float case 12 to which the pipe 8 is connected, a float 14 disposed inside the float case 12, and an oil amount indicating rod 16 having the float 14 fixed to the lower end. The left side of the figure is the worker side.

An oil amount indicating window (not shown) similar to the conventional example is provided on the operator side of the arm portion 2 of the sewing machine. A scale indicating the amount of oil is formed in the oil amount indicating window.
The upper end of 6 is located in this oil amount indication window. Oil tank 6 in bed part 4 and float case 12
Are connected by a pipe 8, so that the oil level in the oil tank 6 and the liquid level in the float case 12 are the same. Therefore, the oil amount indicating rod 16 is displaced up and down according to the oil amount in the oil tank 6.

A sensor 2 is provided near the upper end of the oil amount indicating rod 16.
2 are provided. When the amount of oil in the oil tank 6 is sufficient, the sensor 22 is capturing the oil amount indicating rod 16. When the position of the float 14 is lowered due to the consumption of oil and the oil amount indicating rod 16 is out of the detection of the sensor 22, the sensor 2
2 reacts and the signal switches. This sensor 22
Is a position that reacts when the oil storage amount in the oil tank 6 becomes equal to or less than the set amount, that is, the liquid level in the oil tank 6 is
It is located at a position where it reacts when it drops below the required height of lubrication.

The sensor 22 is connected to a warning means 26 and a sewing machine drive motor 28 via a control means 24. When the sewing machine is operating when the sensor 22 detects that the oil storage amount has become equal to or less than the set amount, the control unit 24 operates the warning unit 26 such as a warning sound or a warning lamp to refuel the worker. And the need for
If the sewing machine is stopped, a rotation prohibition command is issued to the sewing machine drive motor 28 so that the sewing machine is not driven until the oil amount returns to a sufficient level.

The sensor 22 can be of an optical type for detecting the reflection of the light beam projected on the oil amount indicating rod 16, but is not limited to this, and the oil storage amount in the oil tank 6 has become equal to or less than the set amount. Any signal can be used as long as the signal is switched in response to the time, and for example, a magnetic type or the like can be used. According to the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent forgetting to refuel, and to prevent a serious trouble such as seizure.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the sewing machine main body is inclined for maintenance of the sewing machine. As shown in FIG. 3, the oil amount indicating device 10 is provided with a float 14 when the sewing machine is tilted.
The oil amount indicating rod 16 is disposed on the oil surface side where the vertical movement amount is large. That is, when the sewing machine tilts, the floating case 12
Is disposed on the side (left side in FIG. 3) that rises with respect to the oil tank 6. As a result, the oil does not exist in the float case 12 or the oil level of the float case 12 increases.
2, the float 14 and the oil amount indicating rod 16 are relatively lowered with respect to the sensor 22. Therefore, even if the amount of oil stored in the oil tank 6 is sufficient, the control means 24 issues a rotation prohibition command to the sewing machine drive motor 28. It is possible to prevent a situation such as injury. That is, according to the present embodiment, the device for detecting the amount of oil in the oil tank 6 and informing the necessity of refueling also functions as a device for detecting the inclination of the sewing machine and ensuring the safety of maintenance. I do.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a sewing machine incorporating the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the main part of the second embodiment. In the oil amount indicating device 10 of this embodiment, a reflector 15 is fixed to the upper surface of the float 14. In addition, the sensor 30 can detect the height of the float 14 by projecting a light beam onto the reflecting plate 15 and detecting the reflected light. Therefore, unlike the sensor 22 of the first embodiment, which outputs an on / off signal in accordance with the presence or absence of the detection of the oil amount indicator rod 16, the float 14
Can be continuously detected.

The sensor 30 is connected to a warning means 26, a sewing machine drive motor 28 and a display means 32 via a control means 24. If the sensor 22 detects that the oil storage amount has become equal to or less than the set amount and the sewing machine is operating, the control unit 24 outputs a warning sound or a warning light.
6 to inform the worker of the need for refueling, and if the sewing machine is stopped, the sewing machine drive motor 2
A command to prohibit rotation is issued to 8 so that the sewing machine is not driven until the oil amount returns to a sufficient level. The display means 32 has an LED display window or a liquid crystal display window, and can display the remaining amount of oil in the oil tank 6 by a numeral, a graph, or the like. The control means 24 is connected to a set value changing means 34.
The set value changing means 34 includes, for example, an input device provided on the arm portion 2 of the sewing machine, and allows the operator to easily input the set value via the input device to easily set the amount of oil in the oil tank 6. It can be changed. Control means 24
Operates the warning means 26 based on the set amount and issues a rotation prohibition command to the sewing machine drive motor 28.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a main part of a sewing machine incorporating the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the main part of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, a mechanical switch 36 is used as detecting means for detecting that the oil storage amount has become equal to or less than the set amount. When the amount of oil in the oil tank 6 is sufficient, the operating piece 36 a of the switch 36 is in contact with the oil amount indicating rod 16. When the position of the float 14 is lowered due to the consumption of oil and the oil amount indicating rod 16 is disengaged from the operating piece 36a of the switch 36, the switch 36 reacts and the signal is switched. The switch 36 is in a position where the oil tank 6 reacts when the oil storage amount in the oil tank 6 becomes equal to or less than the set amount, that is, the oil tank 6
Is located at a point where it reacts when the liquid level in the tank falls below the required height for lubrication.

The switch 36 is connected to the warning means 26 and the sewing machine drive motor 28 via the control means 24 in the same manner as the sensor 22 of the first embodiment.

[0021]

According to the oil amount indicating device of the present invention, the driving of the sewing machine is prohibited when the detecting means detects that the oil storage amount has become equal to or less than the set amount, so that seizure is prevented. Can be.

When the movable member is disposed on the oil surface side where the vertical movement amount is large when the sewing machine is tilted, the main power supply is automatically cut off at the time of maintenance. Therefore, a safety switch is provided on the sewing machine table as in the related art. There is no need to do so, resulting in cost reduction

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a sewing machine incorporating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a sewing machine main body is tilted for maintenance of the sewing machine.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a sewing machine incorporating a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a main part of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a sewing machine incorporating a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a main part of a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an industrial sewing machine in which a conventional oil amount indicating device is incorporated.

FIG. 9 is a front view of an industrial sewing machine in which a conventional oil amount indicating device is incorporated.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 oil tank 10 oil amount indicating device
12 Float case 14 Float 15 Reflector
16 Oil amount indicating rod 22 Sensor (detection means)
24 control means 26 warning means 28 sewing machine drive motor 30 sensor (detection means)
32 display means 34 set value changing means 36 switch (detection means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A movable member which is displaced in accordance with an amount of oil stored in an oil tank of a sewing machine, and a detecting means which can detect at least that the amount of oil stored has become equal to or less than a set amount by detecting a position of the movable member. And a means for prohibiting the driving of the sewing machine when the detection means detects that the oil storage amount has become equal to or less than the set amount. 2. An oil amount indicating device for a sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means is capable of adjusting said set amount. 3. An oil amount indicating device for a sewing machine according to claim 1, wherein said movable member is arranged on an oil surface side which has a large amount of vertical movement when said sewing machine is tilted. apparatus.